Tuesday This and That

Another ritual of fall seems to have happened this week.

While walking down a dark lane with Bridie this morning and acknowledging Jupiter up there in southwestern sky, I heard the cacophony of mother cows from the north part of our little valley.

Someone down the road must have done some weaning this week. It might have affected some of the cows seen in the photo above.

 Unlike the turkeys and the geese and other birds who turn off their respective sounds when they go to bed at night, these cows were having none of that. 

The not-so-syncopated chorus continued the entire time Bridie and I were walking outside. 

Never mind going to bed; these cows wanted their babies back. 

I'm sure the night-time noise will die down in a day or two, but today's version certainly had a loud, continuous and melancholy theme to it. 

Poor mamas!

I realized this morning that I've been seeing Jupiter long before the event of its closeness to Earth was advertised, but I wasn't sure that it was Jupiter.

Now that we're told that the planet with its moons is the brightest star in the southeastern sky at night and the brightest in the southwestern sky in the morning, I'm feeling pretty good about---for once---seeing as astronomical event when it happens. 

In this case, even earlier than advertised.  

Those who tell us about Jupiter expect anyone who'd be interested to be night owls rather than early birds cuz they don't mention the morning-sky spectacles very often.  

So, I was glad when the TV reporter talking about Jupiter last night gave us wannabe star gazers a choice. 

It's Tuesday and CB riding day.  After analyzing all that went wrong last week, I've initiated a few new strategies for this morning's session.

CB's dust layer from the barnyard has already been brushed away. 

The rump rope will be immediately available if CB decides he doesn't want to load this morning. 

Bill is hanging around to help me load him, and he'll be around when I dismount and take him to the trailer to load after the session.

I'm thinking positive in that last statement, namely the "when I dismount" part.  

Today I'm hoping CB is not out of sorts once I mount him later this morning but will take subtle precautions to avoid situations that triggered his naughtiness last week. 

Thinking positive for situations that could be difficult is easier said than done.  It takes hard work.

Over the past week, I've run across some nice reminders that we can plant in our brains and then replant whenever necessary. 

In one case, the Duke women's basketball coach talks to her team about "hard" and "easy," reminding them over and over that as we attempt to progress at most of our goals, it will continue to get harder much sooner than it will get or remain easy. 

I have found that her words and the other words found below are true for any segment of life. 

We just have to revisit them from time to time and remind ourselves that the bliss and satisfaction we so desire almost always comes through hard work and a desire and proactive approach to overcoming obstacles that stand in our way. 

It's easy to give up; it's hard to keep moving forward; it's often most rewarding when we choose the latter. 

Anywho, the meme about life appeared on a former student's Facebook page, and I do believe she follows most of what appears on the meme. 

Good reminders there, and good reminders about happiness from a senior citizen moving to assisted care. 

And, then the Duke coach's wise words. 

This morning, I've also included an announcement about a very special photography award.  Amy Sawyer Peterson is a former student in one of my graphic arts classes. 

Since she decided to seriously pursue photography, specifically ranch photography, Amy has seen success after success with her work, and I'm sure she knows the difference between easy and hard. 

She makes it look easy because of all the hard work she puts into her passion. 

So proud of and happy for her.  Enjoy her photos which earned the award. 

Happy Tuesday.

Work hard; then take it easy!

"HAPPINESS is like a bank account: you withdraw from it, what you deposit.

So my advice would be to deposit a lot of happiness into your memory account.

Remember these five simple things:

1.- Free your heart from hate/discord.

2.- Free your mind from worries.

3.- Live Simply.

4.- Give more.

5.- Take less."

  

WOOHOO! This is the first time having all 4 entries in my case awarded a merit at the International Photographic Competition and earning a Bronze medal!

                                         ---Amy Peterson

“Amy Peterson of Selkirk Ridge Photography in Sandpoint, ID was named a Bronze Medalist during Professional Photographers of America's 2022 International Photographic Competition. Peterson’s work will be on display at the upcoming Imaging USA, held January 22-24, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Imaging USA is one of the largest annual conventions and expos for professional photographers. A panel of 36 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from over 5,000 total submitted entries at PPA headquarters in Atlanta.

Amy was named a Bronze Medalist by earning a merit—a mark of quality and honor—for each of the four images included in her entry case to the International Photographic Competition. 

This is the most prestigious competition of its kind, where images are judged based on a standard of artistic excellence, not against each other."